Update: Lamborghini Veneno Debuts in Abu Dhabi

By Bradley Iger

December 04, 2013

Lamborghini has never been a company concerned with subtlety. In keeping with that tradition, the Italian automaker chose to carry out the reveal of their newest ultra-rare hypercar, the Veneno Roadster, aboard a 787ft aircraft carrier docked in the Persian Gulf.

And perhaps that's the most appropriate venue for the new droptop. Not only does it resemble the offspring of a Le Mans racer and a fighter jet but, in Lamborghini's own words, the location of such a venue is actually quite opportune:

"We are honored that Lamborghini was chosen to represent the Italian car industry in the UAE, as a perfect example of iconic Italian super sports cars, and that we have the opportunity to show the Veneno Roadster for the first time in Abu Dhabi, said Lamborghini chief Stephan Winkelmann. "Lamborghini has an extremely strong following in the region for its super sports cars, with the Middle East one of our largest markets in the world."

Sporting a price tag of $4.4 million and production that's limited to just nine cars, could it be that this reveal was less about bravado and more about clever marketing tactics? Perhaps those Italians really do know what they're doing.

The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster made its public debut on board the Italian naval aircraft carrier Nave Cavour on 1 December 2013.

At an exclusive 'Italian evening' attended by authorities, clients, VIPs and media, the limited edition super sports car, of which only nine will be produced, was formally unveiled on the flight deck of the 240 metre ship while docked in Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed port.

"The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster is one of the world's most exclusive cars with the most extraordinary performance," says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Lamborghini, commenting on the event. "We are honored that Lamborghini was chosen to represent the Italian car industry in the UAE, as a perfect example of iconic Italian super sports cars, and that we have the opportunity to show the Veneno Roadster for the first time in Abu Dhabi. Lamborghini has an extremely strong following in the region for its super sports cars, with the Middle East one of our largest markets in the world."

The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster is a fully road legal, open top car, bringing the aerodynamic efficiency of a racing prototype to the road, with extreme design and breathtaking performance. The nine units will be built during 2014, priced at 3.3 million euro excluding taxes.

With a maximum power output of 552 kW / 750 hp, the V12 Veneno Roadster accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 355 km/h. Shown in Abu Dhabi in the specially developed colour 'Rosso Veneno', each client will be able to individualize the colour of his Veneno Roadster to suit their personal preference.

The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster was unveiled in the presence of His Excellency Giorgio Starace, Italian Ambassador to the UAE and the Admiral of High Seas Forces, Paolo Treu. Guests on board Nave Cavour enjoyed hospitality from chef Corrado Corti of Italy's famous Hotel Splendido in Portofino, who flew in especially for the occasion. Singer and actress Elena Bonelli opened the event with the Italian national anthem; fashion designer Giada Curti offered a tableau vivant of her creations with ten top models. One of the happy few to sit in the Veneno Roadster was former captain of the national Italian soccer team and 2006 world champion Fabio Cannavaro.

Lamborghini Veneno Roadster –

a collector's Masterpiece of Engineering and Design

The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster is an open racing prototype with an extreme design and breathtaking performance. And it is one of the world's most exclusive automobiles – not more than nine units will be built during the course of 2014 and sold at a price of 3.3 million Euros (excl. tax).

The Veneno Roadster is extreme and guarantees an intense driving experience – because open means truly open. There is no roof, just a strong rollover bar for optimum safety. The design is focused on optimum aerodynamics and stability through fast corners – with handling akin to that of a racing prototype. Yet it is fully road legal.

With a maximum output of 552 kW / 750 hp, the Veneno Roadster accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds and top speed stands at 355 km/h. The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster is driven by a twelve-cylinder engine with a displacement of 6.5 liters and is equipped with the extremely fast-shifting ISR transmission with five modes, permanent all-wheel drive and a racing chassis with pushrod suspension and horizontal spring/damper units.

The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster brings the aerodynamic efficiency of a racing prototype to the road. Every detail of its form pursues a clear function – exceptional dynamics, optimum downforce with minimal drag and perfect cooling of the high-performance engine. Therefore the Veneno Roadster is unmistakably a Lamborghini; it sticks firmly to the consistent design philosophy of all the super sports cars from Sant'Agata Bolognese. That includes the extreme proportions, as well as the powerfully arrow-shaped front end and the interplay between razor-sharp lines and precise surfaces.

The entire design of the Lamborghini Veneno Roadster has been laid out for perfect airflow and downforce. The front end works as a large aerodynamic wing. The visual division of the rear fenders from the car body is a reference to the world of racing cars and optimizes the aerodynamic flow. The smooth underbody transitions into a substantial diffuser framing the four sizable exhaust pipes divided by a splitter. Large openings serve to ventilate the engine bay and direct airflow to the rear wing. The design of the adjustable rear wing is the product of motorsport experience and extensive aerodynamic simulation to ensure optimum airflow in the interaction of the rear wing with the rear diffuser.

The design of the exclusive alloy wheels is also determined by aerodynamic functionality – a carbon-fiber ring around the wheel rim works like a turbine to deliver additional cooling air to the carbon-ceramic brake discs. The intense paint color "Rosso Veneno" was developed exclusively for the Veneno Roadster, although each single customer will be able to individualize his own vehicle to suit his personal preferences.

The Veneno Roadster is further proof of Automobili Lamborghini's unique competence in CFRP-based lightweight design. A monocoque made from carbon-fiber reinforced polymer forms the basis of the Roadster. All exterior parts are made from CFRP. The Veneno Roadster meets all safety and registration requirements worldwide, and naturally also incorporates a full complement of safety systems from airbags through to the adapted ESP handling system.

Carbon fiber dominates also the interior of the Veneno Roadster. The carbon fiber monocoque is visible inside the car around the central tunnel and the sills. The two lightweight bucket seats are made from Lamborghini's patented Forged Composite. The woven carbon-fiber CarbonSkin is used to clad the entire cockpit, part of the seats and the headliner. Like a hi-tech fabric, this extremely fine-looking carbon-fiber matting fits perfectly to any form and reduces the weight of the vehicle.

The systematic, carbon-fiber, lightweight design of the Veneno Roadster is not only visible, it is also evident on the scales: with a dry weight of just 1,490 kilograms (3,278 pounds), the Veneno Roadster benefits from a power-to-weight ratio of just 1.99 kg/hp (4.38 lbs/hp) which guarantees a performance that is nothing short of mind-blowing. Even the stunning acceleration figure of 2.9 seconds cannot adequately describe it. Despite an aerodynamic setup configured for extreme downforce, the Veneno Roadster possesses exceptionally low wind resistance which allows it to reach a top speed of 355 km/h (221 mph).